Major in Mathematics with Honors

What is an Honors Mathematics Program?

The Mathematics Department offers a variety of honors courses. Mathematics majors who fulfill specific requirements, basically to take seven honors mathematics courses, can graduate with Honors in Mathematics. (An Honors Minor in Mathematics is also available.) Other honors programs, with overlapping but different requirements, are Honors in Science and University Honors Fellows. All of the hours for Math honors will count toward College of Science Honors and those taken at A&M toward University Honors Fellow.

What is an honors course?

"Honors courses are intended to be more complex, not necessarily more difficult," and "are expected to provide increased intellectual challenge through more sophisticated material, a higher level of intellectual engagement, and more responsibility for the learning process than would typically be expected in an undergraduate course," according to the university. The philosophy of the Department of Mathematics is that honors students should be more intellectually curious, more motivated, and more independent than the average undergraduate.

Perks of being an Honors Mathematics Major

Smaller classes with an enriched learning experience.

Honors priority registration, which is the first two days of the pre-registration period.

An increased probability of being taken to mathematics conferences with all expenses except for food paid for by the department.

An increased probability to be hired for the higher paying jobs such as undergraduate TA.

A few honors mathematics students are invited to be Honors Mentors, students who run help sessions for honors classes they have had and earned an A in.

A greatly increased probability of being accepted into FastTrack, our five-year combined bachelors/masters program in mathematics.

Looks great on a resume.

Becoming an Honors Mathematics Major

Qualified entering freshmen are invited into the math honors program at their new student conferences.

Any mathematics major with at least a 3.5 GPA may ask the Director of Honors Programs in Mathematics to be added to the honors program in mathematics as long as the student can still take the required seven honors mathematics classes before graduation.

NOTE: Any student with at least a 3.5 GPA may take an honors class if there are seats available, but doing so does not, by itself, earn the student the Honors distinctions nor gain any of the perks listed below. Any honors classes taken before entering an Honors Program (e.g., Honors in Mathematics, College of Science Honors) can be used to fulfill the program requirements.

Remaining in the Honors Mathematics Program

Maintain at least a 3.5 GPA.

Take at least one honors math class each academic year.

Students with under a 3.5 but high enough GPA to be over a 3.5 at the end of the next semester will be put on probation for one semester and removed from the program if they are under a 3.5 a second consecutive semester. To be reinstated into the Honors Mathematics Program, the student must meet all the requirements to become a mathematics honors student and be registered for an honors mathematics class in the semester in which reinstatement is requested from the Director of Honors Programs in Mathematics.

Exceptions to Rule 2 must be approved by the Director of the Honors Programs in Mathematics. A year-long study abroad program in which there is no opportunity to take an honors mathematics class is an example of an acceptable reason.

Requirements to earn the transcript distinction of Honors in Mathematics

In order to receive Honors in Mathematics, a mathematics major must complete all of the requirements for a BA or BS in Math or a BS in APMS of which 21 hours must be completed as follows:

at least 3 hours in an honors mathematics course 100 level or above (honors Calculus I does not count toward the Honors in Mathematics distinction but does count toward the at least one honors math class each academic year),

With very few exceptions, all math honors courses must be taken at Texas A&M. (An example of an exception would be earning an A at Budapest Semesters in Mathematics. For more information speak to the Director of Honors Programs in Mathematics.)

APMS students with emphases in Computational Science or in Statistics may use honors level 4xx courses from CSCE or STAT that are on their degree plans or some 6xx courses in their emphasis area to count toward math honors. Approval from the Director of Honors Programs in Mathematics is required.

A maximum of 6 hours total of 485H and 491H are normally allowed. Only under very unusual circumstances will the Director of Honors Programs in Mathematics allow 9.

To earn credit for an internship (485H) or for an REU (491H), the student must see the Director of Undergraduate Research in Mathematics (or, for an actuarial internship, the Actuarial Advisor) after spring break but before finals of the spring term to set up the course and to fill out paperwork.

For students starting at Texas A&M before Fall 2017:

A maximum of 4 hours of AP credit may be used for honors Calculus II by earning a 5 on the Calculus BC exam and taking the credit for Calculus II through Howdy for Math 172/Math 152 as long as Calculus II is not retaken. Note that Howdy gives the 172 option sometimes and the 152 option other times. Simply take what is offered and don't worry. Calculus I honors does not count toward earning honors in mathematics whether by AP credit or taking it here as an honors class.

With very few exceptions, all math honors courses must be taken at Texas A&M. (Examples of exceptions would be earning an A at Budapest Semesters in Mathematics or from AP honors credit as discussed right above. For more information speak to the Director of Honors Programs in Mathematics.)

APMS students with emphases in Computational Science or in Statistics may use honors level 4xx courses from CSCE or STAT that are on their degree plans or some 6xx courses in their emphasis area to count toward math honors. Approval from the Director of Honors Programs in Mathematics is required.

A maximum of 6 hours total of 485H and 491H are normally allowed. Only under very unusual circumstances will the Director of Honors Programs in Mathematics allow 9.

To earn credit for an internship (485H) or for an REU (491H), the student must see the Director of Undergraduate Research in Mathematics (or, for an actuarial internship, the Actuarial Advisor) after spring break but before finals of the spring term to set up the course and to fill out paperwork.

Eligible Mathematics Courses when offered; no guarantee that they will be: